Leland Turley, 91, of Tulsa, spent four months as a prisoner of war during World War II. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
The number of surviving veterans who served in World War II shrinks more each day, their stories and experiences of the bloodiest global war lost with them.
More than 16.5 million Americans served across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. About 2 million remain, including about 26,000 living in Oklahoma, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"I don't want to say those statistics because my dad is one of them," said Linda Wilson, a professor at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow, who recently put together a monthlong symposium featuring World War II veterans telling their stories.
"We should have done this 10 years ago. We should have done this 20 years ago."
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that the veterans who served in World War II will be gone in 20 years, which makes it important to record their stories from the sources, Wilson said.
"It'll be like the Civil War or World War I: There will be diaries, other primary-source documents, but the personal interaction will be gone," Wilson said.
While their country remembers their sacrifice this Veterans Day, the Tulsa World spoke to four area World War II veterans and is sharing their stories of death and destruction, hope and redemption. It's been more than 67 years since the war ended and the Greatest Generation returned home, but their memories still survive.
Tulsa Veterans Day Parade
- 11 a.m. Monday, starting at Third Street and Boston Avenue.
- The 94th parade will wind through downtown and end at Denver Avenue and Sixth Street.
- The parade will air live on KTUL channel 8.
Four local men who fought in WWII share their stories
Bill Caldwell, 90, had to stretch his age the first time he joined the military.
Click here to read the full vignette by Jerry Wofford, World Staff Writer.
War had already started when
Clarence Pleake, 92, was living in Kansas City with his wife and children. He hadn’t been drafted, but seeing the young men around him leaving for war he felt he had to contribute.
Click here to read the full vignette by Jerry Wofford, World Staff Writer.
About a week after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor,
Leland Turley, 91, married his high school sweetheart and they had started their life on a farm near Nowata. But they would barely have time together before his number came up.
Click here to read the full vignette by Jerry Wofford, World Staff Writer.
After an unsuccessful attempt to enlist in the Marine Corps with his friend,
Lester Clark, 88, went to sign up for the Navy with his cousin. They took them both, and sent them to opposite coasts.
Click here to read the full vignette by Jerry Wofford, World Staff Writer.
Jerry Wofford 918-581-8310
jerry.wofford@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Service. Honor. Sacrifice.
